On Saturday, Anton Dowds was named Ladbrokes League 1 Player of the Month for January and was presented with his award before training the the Oriam on Thursday.
Anton started the month with a goal against Airdrieonians in a match East Fife went on to lose that game 2-1, the only defeat of the month. That was followed by a 2-0 victory over Montrose at Links Park when Dowds gave veteran centre-halves Dillon and Campbell a torrid time, setting up the first of Liam Watt’s two goals that day and was unlucky not to find himself on the score sheet when he pressured Dillion into a short back post but Dowds’ strike just curled past the post.
Up next was a 2-1 Victory over Greenock Morton in the 4th round of the Scottish Cup at the Locality Hub Bayview Stadium. Morton had taken an early lead only for Dowds to equalise almost immediately from a well worked corner before Craig Watson sealed victory 15 minutes from time.
Dowds finished the month with a brace against Stranraer at Stair Park when the visitors recovered from 3-1 down to win 4-3. Stranraer had taken the lead into the break with two first half goals. Kevin Smith pulled one back shortly after half-time only for Victoria to restore the 2-goal advantage. Craig Watson made it 3-2 with 20 minutes left to play and Dowds levelled the match moments later with a strike from 10-yards before he completed the comeback when he headed in Watt’s corner with 10 minutes left to play taking his goal tally for the season to 10.
Congratulations Anton from everyone at East Fife!